Thigh-slimming garment and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A thigh-slimming garment and method thereof, wherein a preferably substantially concealed support mechanism is provided within the crotch and inner-thigh region thereof, thereby enabling the wearer to present a natural, aesthetically appealing, contoured and shaped inner-thigh region, thus eliminating the need for purchase and wear of a separate shape-enhancing or minimizing undergarment, yet enabling the creation of a visible space, or open region, in the inner-thigh/crotch region between the upper legs of the wearer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to shape enhancing clothing and,more specifically, to thigh-slimming garment having a support mechanismprovided within the crotch and inner-thigh region, thereby enabling thewearer to present an aesthetically appealing, contoured and shapedinner-thigh region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clothing selections for individual wear are often based upon popularityof styles, fashions and comfort. Many times, however, popular looks arenot conducive to comfortable wear by an average consumer. That is, someclothing styles seem to be designed specifically for tall, slenderindividuals, but fail to provide the often sought after media image whenworn by an average person.

As a result, many individuals seek treatments, procedures, accessoriesand gadgets in quest of an altered and/or improved physical appearance.Women seem especially likely to pursue such a goal. Medical treatmentsand procedures for shaping and/or reshaping one's body can be expensiveand, as with most medical treatments, present risks that can haveundesirable side effects. Alternatively, gadgets designed to assist inbody shaping and slenderizing can be effective, but often requirestrenuous and ongoing efforts for realization of results. It is notsurprising, then, that many women, and men, choose to rely onaccessories and garments to create body shaping illusions that enablethe wear of popular styles and designs, as touted by models andcelebrities alike.

As a result, a wide variety of such body-shaping garments continue to becreated. In addition to girdles, corsets and other traditionalconstricting undergarments, a typical department store, for instance,now offers a plethora of body shaping stockings and slips. Eachundergarment offers either minimization or enhancement of a targetedarea or zone. In addition, outerwear such as leggings and dresses aresold, wherein the fabric is so tightly resilient that the wearer is“held” in place. Each such article or device is purchased by a consumerin the hopes that she, or he, will be able to successfully manipulate atarget area of the body to display a desirable fashion. Unfortunately, asuccessful look with such articles is often unattainable and/orunbearably uncomfortable.

Even if a shaping undergarment enables the outward display of aglamorous illusion, getting out of such an undergarment is almost neverglamorous and can lead to embarrassing situations. For instance, whilemany individuals might wear a supportive undergarment to exhibit acertain look even if the garment were uncomfortable, the majority wouldnot want to make the fact of such wear known. Thus, such an undergarmentis disadvantageous for wear by an individual whose subsequent disrobingmay be in front of another, such as in an intimate setting, or perhapsin the company of peers in a locker room or other group-typearrangements.

Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for clothinghaving shape-enhancing features provided therein, thereby enabling agarment to be manufactured from essentially any fabric in a desirableand/or popular style, while also enabling concealed and targetedshape-enhancing properties, thereby avoiding the above-discusseddisadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present inventionovercomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognizedneed for such a device by providing thigh-slimming pants, wherein apreferably substantially concealed support mechanism is provided withinthe crotch and inner-thigh region thereof, thereby enabling the wearerto present a natural, appealingly-contoured and shaped inner-thighregion, and wherein the need for purchase and wear of a separateshape-enhancing or minimizing undergarment is eliminated.

According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present inventionis a trouser, jean, Capri, jam (shorts), or other type of legweargarment, wherein style is maximized through the incorporation of acomfortable and essentially undetectable functional feature for visuallyminimizing the dimensions of the inner-thigh, whereby the preferredresulting effect is the creation of a visible space, or open region, inthe inner-thigh/crotch region between the upper legs of the wearer.

More specifically, the device of the present invention in its preferredform is a jeans or pants-type device with a support mechanism providedtherein to enable thigh-minimizing properties. The support mechanism, inits preferred form, is a plastic insert having a soft and flexible, yetstrong and supportive construction. The insert is shaped for placementin the crotch area of a pair of jeans, preferably constructed to receiveand carry the insert within an internal pocket or receptacle therein.The insert is sufficiently thin to enable unobtrusive and comfortablewear, and preferably possesses a generally U-shaped configuration toextend down into the thigh area of the wearer, thereby enabling thecrotch and inner-thigh region of a wearer to be supported, and enablingthe wearer to remove the jeans without revealing the shaping insert toan observer.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of sucha device to support and shape the inner thigh area within an article ofclothing.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to enable unobtrusive and comfortable wear.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to provide a body-shaping device in combination with agarment, wherein the garment can be fabricated of any material, fabric,leather, suede or the like.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to provide a body-shaping device in combination with agarment, whereby removal of the garment by the wearer does not renderthe body-shaping device obvious to an observer.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to be comfortably and flexibly supportive.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to enable the wearer to present an appealingly-contouredand shaped inner-thigh region.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to enable shape-enhancing features to be incorporated intopopular styles and fashions.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to eliminate the need for purchase and wear of a separateshape-enhancing or minimizing undergarment.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to maximize style by incorporating an essentiallyundetectable functional feature for visually minimizing the dimensionsof the inner-thigh.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to enable the wearer to create a visible space, or openregion, in the inner-thigh/crotch region between the upper legs.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability ofsuch a device to support and contour the thigh region in a fashionsimilar to the support and contour of a breast by an underwirebrassiere.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent to one skilled in the art from the followingdescription and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the DetailedDescription of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numeralsdenote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of a prior art garment.

FIG. 2 is a front, perspective view of a thigh-slimming pants deviceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support member of the thigh-slimmingpants device of FIG. 2 according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, as illustrated in the figures and/or described herein,specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention,however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology soselected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includesall technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplishsimilar functions.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the present invention in its preferred form isthigh-slimming garment 10 and method thereof (i.e., preferably marketedunder the trademark GAPP), wherein garment 10 is preferably in the formof conventional ankle-length pants, and wherein support mechanism 20 isprovided to be worn proximate to the crotch and inner-thigh regions ofthe wearer. Although garment 10 is preferably pants, it is contemplatedin an alternate embodiment that garment 10 could be jams, or longshorts, Capri pants, jeans, or any other type of appropriatelyconfigured garment. Support mechanism 20 is preferably, generallyU-shaped, wherein first generally elongated arm 30 and second generallyelongated arm 50 extend proximate to the wearer's inner-thigh from base70 proximate to the wearer's crotch area.

Referring now to FIG. 3, support mechanism 20 is formed from generallyfirm, yet somewhat flexible material capable of delivering a resistantpressure to the inner-thigh area, preferably with a silicon-coated wireframe 90 and fabric interior 92. The resistant pressure delivered bysupport mechanism 20 is preferably similar to that delivered by theunderwire in a brassiere. One skilled in the art would readily recognizethat, although silicon-coated wire is preferred for frame 90, othertypes of wire, wire-coatings, and/or generally firm yet flexiblematerials could be utilized to form frame 90. Moreover, other types ofinterior materials could also be utilized in lieu of fabric interior 92,such as, for exemplary purposes only, plastic or any other appropriatesynthetic or natural material.

In the preferred form and use of thigh-slimming pants device 10 andmethod thereof, support mechanism 20 is positioned proximate to innerleg seam 100 of pants device 10, wherein fabric interior 92 ispreferably sewn or stitched to inner leg seam 100. It is recognized andanticipated that other means of attachment could be utilized withoutdeparting from the intended scope of the present invention such as, forexemplary purposes only, adhesives or heat-fusion. Moreover, supportmechanism 20 could be positioned between a lining fabric and the outerfabric, especially for pants having minimal or no inner-leg seams. It isalso anticipated that in lieu of or in addition to fabric interior 92,frame 90 could be sewn or otherwise attached proximate to inner leg seam100.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is a pair of pants Prepresentative of the prior art, wherein a wearer's inner-thigh region Rcan touch or rub, unflatteringly and/or uncomfortably. For the present,preferred invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the dimensions of firstgenerally elongated arm 30 and second generally elongated arm 50preferably enable support mechanism 20 to extend at least a smalldistance, from the pubic area down the inner-thigh of the wearer, toenable the definition of a visible space or open region between the legsof the wearer, wherein the width of first generally elongated arm 30 andsecond generally elongated arm 50 is preferably minimized for comfort.Thus, the inner-thigh regions R of the wearer are essentially preventedfrom substantially contacting one another. One skilled in the art shouldrecognize that the width of the components of support mechanism 20 couldbe varied, and could provide for extension at least partially around theleg of the wearer to further shape the leg beyond the inner-thigh regionR. In the preferred embodiment, however, the dimensional width ofelongated arms 30 and 50 is preferably the width that, relative to thesize of the pants and the individual wearer, enables achievement of thedesired effect with maximum comfort and with virtual undetectability.

In an alternate embodiment, support mechanism 20 could be formed and/ormolded from plastic, wherein frame 90 and interior 92 could beintegrally related.

In another alternate embodiment, support mechanism 20 could be formedfrom any generally rigid, yet wearable, substrate or substrates, whereinsupport mechanism 20 could be affixed within a covering, or pocket-typearrangement, to inhibit direct contact with the leg of the wearer.

In another alternate embodiment, support member 20 could be removablyaffixed proximate to inner seam 100, wherein support member 20 could bepositioned with a pocket, or could be affixed by a fastening means suchas, for exemplary purposes only, hook-and-loop fasteners or snaps.

In another alternate embodiment, support member 20 could be manufacturedfor utilization in pre-existing pants, in lieu of the preferredthigh-slimming garment 10, wherein a fastening system could be providedtherewith to enable removable fastening thereto.

In another alternate embodiment, support member 20 could be generallyV-shaped, or could be formed from two generally elongated supportmembers, wherein each support member could be attached to theinner-thigh region of a garment without being connected to each other.

In another alternate embodiment, support member 20 could be formed fromany number of generally elongated support arms, such that eachinner-thigh region could be contoured with a grouping of two or three ormore support members 20.

In another alternate embodiment, support member 20 could be formed andattached to, or removably utilized with, shorts, Capri pants, leggings,or with any other type of legwear wherein the gap spacing effect is adesirable illusion.

In use, the user purchases thigh-slimming pants device 10 with supportmember 20 provided therein. During wear of the pants, support member 20exerts a generally inwardly-directed restrictive pressure along theinner-thigh, wherein such pressure effectively shapes and sculpts theinner-thigh region and essentially prevents contact therebetween, thusdefining an open area between the upper portion of the wearer's legs andcreating the illusion of slimmer, leaner, sexier thigh. Upon removal ofthigh-slimming pants device 10, support member 20 preferably remainsintact therewith, thereby allowing the wearer to disrobe in front ofanother in an intimate setting, or perhaps in the company of peers in alocker room or other group-type arrangement, without having to revealthe body-contouring nature of the garment.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, itshould be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosuresare exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations,and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specificembodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the followingclaims.

1. A thigh-slimming device for use with pair of pants, saidthigh-slimming device comprising: a generally U-shaped support member,wherein said generally U-shaped support member is carried by the pair ofpants proximate to crotch and upper, inner-leg region thereof.
 2. Ashape-enhancing garment comprising: legwear having an inner-leg region;and a shape-enhancing insert carried proximate to said inner-leg regionof said legwear, wherein said shape-enhancing insert generally restrainsat least a portion of the inner-thigh of the wearer of saidshape-enhancing garment.
 3. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 2,wherein said shape-enhancing insert is substantially concealed fromview.
 4. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 2, wherein said legwear isa pair of trousers.
 5. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 2, whereinsaid legwear is a pair of jeans.
 6. The shape-enhancing garment of claim2, wherein said legwear at least partially extends past the inner-thighregion of the wearer.
 7. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 2, whereinsaid shape-enhancing insert is plastic.
 8. The shape-enhancing garmentof claim 2, wherein said inner-leg region of said shape-enhancing insertis proximate to the crotch and inner-thigh regions of the wearer of saidshape-enhancing garment.
 9. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 2,wherein said shape-enhancing insert is generally U-shaped.
 10. Theshape-enhancing garment of claim 9, wherein said shape-enhancing insertcomprises a first generally elongated arm, a second generally elongatedarm, and a base, and wherein said first generally elongated arm and saidsecond generally elongated arm extend from said base.
 11. Theshape-enhancing garment of claim 2, wherein said shape-enhancing insertis defined by a frame.
 12. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 11,wherein said frame is formed from wire.
 13. The shape-enhancing garmentof claim 12, wherein said wire carries a coating.
 14. Theshape-enhancing garment of claim 11, wherein said frame carries fabric.15. The shape-enhancing garment of claim 14, wherein said fabric isaffixed to said inner-leg region of said legwear.
 16. Theshape-enhancing garment of claim 2, wherein said shape-enhancing insertis carried between a liner and a material of said legwear.
 17. Thethigh-slimming device of claim 1, wherein said generally U-shapedsupport member comprises means for removable attachment to the pair ofpants.
 18. The thigh-slimming device of claim 17, wherein said means forremovable attachment to the pair of pants is hook-and-loop fastener. 19.The thigh-slimming device of claim 17, wherein said means for removableattachment to a pair of pants is at least one snap.
 20. A method ofmaximizing the space between the inner-thighs of an individual via ashape-enhancing garment, said method comprising the steps of: a.obtaining a garment having a functional inner-thigh support memberprovided therewith; b. putting on said shape-enhancing garment; and c.allowing said functional inner-thigh support member of saidshape-enhancing garment to manipulate the dimensions of at least aportion of the inner-thighs of the individual via at least minimallyrestrictive pressure.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising thestep of: d. removing said shape-enhancing garment, wherein saidfunctional inner-thigh support member remains substantially concealedwithin the construct of said shape-enhancing garment.